Photo: Susan Burgess (right), principal of George Washington Elementary School in Baltimore, carries her school's Blue Ribbon banner, as Darla Strouse, Director of the Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools Program, looks on. Six Maryland schools were honored at a ceremony today and will represent the state in the National Blue Ribbons Schools competition.(Sun photo by Amy Davis) Dec 11, 2006

BALTIMORE (December 11, 2006)

State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick today announced the names of six public schools that have been selected as the 2007 Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence.

The names of the six schools have been submitted to the U.S. Secretary of Education for the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. They are being recognized by the Maryland State Department of Education on the basis of rigorous state and national requirements for high achievement and dramatic improvement.

"Maryland has more than 1,300 schools, so being selected for this honor is an amazing achievement," Dr. Grasmick said. "Each one of these schools serves as an example of educational excellence. I want to commend the students, teachers, parents, administrators and community members of these schools for their hard work."

Four of the schools are in the top 10 percent of state schools as measured by the Maryland School Assessments. Two are economically disadvantaged schools that demonstrated dramatic improvement on the state assessments over at least the past three years. Two elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools made the list.

The schools will be honored by Dr. Grasmick and other dignitaries at a banquet scheduled this spring in Annapolis. They also will be recognized with a special tribute by the Maryland General Assembly.

The schools will represent Maryland in the National Blue Ribbon Schools Competition. National winners will be announced in the fall of 2007 and be invited to Washington, DC to be honored by national officials.